______________________________________________________________________________________________
Issue_H November 2013 8 Dash Life
Make sure that the front end of the chair is
lowered slowly to the floor, and that the
castors are pointing to the rear.
Fig 7
– Going down a kerb
Finish position
Castors with small
wheels are more
liable to dig in,
than large wheels,
and require extra
care in use.
6.5
KERBS
Negotiating a kerb.
The methods described here involve an attendant
controlling the operation. Active users adopt balancing
techniques carry out kerb manoeuvres independently,
but methods will vary according to the setting of the
chair, the physical strength of the user and skills
acquired through training and practice with wheelchair
experts. See section 1.6
.
Going down a kerb:
The chair castors should be taken to the edge of the
kerb. The pusher should hold the chair handles firmly,
pressing down on the tipping lever and at the same
time tilting the chair back.
See fig 6 & 7.
The rear wheels can then be taken to the kerb edge
and the foot removed from the tipping lever. The chair
is then lowered down the kerb on its rear wheels, with
the castor wheels facing rearwards,
this prevents them
jamming up momentarily as the chair starts to move
,
before pivoting the chair gently to the ground, to face
direction of travel and then pushing forward.
Note:
The chair must not be tipped for
ward or the occupant may fall out.
When stabilisers have been fitted, this
operation is more difficult to control,
and extra care should be taken.
Going up a kerb. First method.
The chair footplates, or occupant feet if longer,
should be taken to just in front of the kerb edge.
The pusher should hold the chair handles firmly,
pressing down on the tipping lever, tilting the chair
backwards using body weight leverage, bringing
chair forward till the back wheels touch the kerb.
The front castors wheels can then be lowered down
onto the path, making sure that the wheels are
facing rearwards. With the push handles held firmly
the attendant should now lift and push the chair.
Going up a kerb. Second method.
The chair should be turned round so that the back
wheels are against the kerb and the attendant
should hold the pushing handles firmly and tip the
chair backwards.
Using body weight as leverage the attendant
should then pull the chair off the kerb and up onto
the pavement, making sure, as above that the
castor wheels are facing rearwards.
The chair may then be pivoted to face the direction
of travel and pushed forward.
Fig 9
– Going down/up a flight of steps
Fig 8
– Apply pressure to
release and engage push
handle as per above.
Ensure that push handle
locks are fully engaged
before using the chair.
